Life Of Pi Page #7

Pi demonstrates her dancing. Anandi smiles, while her friends

giggle at his performance.

25.

PI (CONT'D)

But at the very end you did this...

(Repeating the gesture:)

None of the other dancers did that.

What did you mean? The God of love

is hiding in the forest?

ANANDI:

No - that also means the lotus

flower.

PI:

The lotus flower is hiding in the

forest? Why would a lotus flower

hide in the forest?

Anandi blushes. She has no answer.

62 EXT. THE ZOO EXHIBITS, 1977 - DAY 62

Pi and Anandi stand at the Bengal Tiger cage, Pi proudly

introducing Anandi to the zoo's finest exhibit.

PI:

And this is Richard Parker. He's

the most magnificent creature we've

ever had here.

(Beat.)

Look at the way he's turning his

head. Showing off - like a dancer.

ANANDI:

No, he heard something - he's

listening. You see?

Pi beams.

64 INT. PATEL DINING ROOM, 1977 - DUSK 64

Pi sits at dinner with the family, a half-smile on his face,

obviously lost in thoughts about Anandi. Father's voice

gradually breaks through into Pi's consciousness.

FATHER:

So...you see? We have talked about

it for some time... Do you

understand what I'm saying? Pi?

Pi glances over.

PI:

Sorry. You've been...

26.

FATHER:

Worried. For my family. Our animals

are worth far more abroad than here

in India, and if the town council

stops supporting us, I don't know

where we'll be. So... it is what we

have to do. Do you understand?

PI:

I'm sorry... what are we talking

about?

RAVI:

We are leaving India.

PI:

What??

MOTHER:

We are selling the zoo.

FATHER:

The zoo itself was never ours to

sell - the land belongs to the

town. But the animals are ours, and

if we sell them, we will have

enough to start a new life.

PI:

But where would we go? Our life is

here Appa!

FATHER:

Canada. I have some opportunities

for work in Winnipeg. I'll be

shipping most of the animals for

sale in North America; we can get

freighter passage for the whole

family. So, it is settled. We will

sail like Columbus!

PI:

But Columbus was looking for India!

EXT. PONDICHERRY, BENEATH THE PIER, 1977 - DAY

Pi and Anandi sit together on the crossbeams beneath the

dock. Anandi takes a length of colored silken threads, tying

them around Pi's wrist to serve as 'Rakhi' - a sisterly

blessing for protection on his journey.

27.

ADULT PI (V.O.)

It takes a lot of work to sell a

zoo; before we left Anandi and I

had time enough to break each

other's hearts. Of course, I

promised I'd come back one day...

It's funny... I remember everything

else about our last day, but I

don't remember saying goodbye...

As she finishes, Pi reaches out impulsively to hold her hand.

67 EXT. CARGO SHIP DECK, 1977 - DUSK 67

Sunset. Pi stands at the railing of the cargo ship, staring

out at the Chennai shoreline. Mother approaches.

MOTHER:

Pi, they're serving dinner below.

(Beat.)

Pi doesn't respond. Mother approaches and stands beside him.

MOTHER (CONT'D)

(After a beat.)

Piscine, You have a whole life

ahead of you. We're doing this for

you and Ravi. Come inside and have

some dinner.

68 INT. THE TSIMTSUM, MESS HALL, 1977 - DAY 68

The family stands in the mess hall line along with the CREW.

The FRENCH COOK, a grizzled and thoroughly unpleasant man,

loads a plate and slides it over the counter to Mother. The

meal consists of liver and onions, sausages, and rice soaked

in gravy. Mother points at her rice.

MOTHER:

My sons and I are vegetarians. Do

you have anything - ?

The French Cook ladles ore gravy over her rice.

MOTHER (CONT'D)

No - no! Not more gravy.

FRENCH COOK:

(Thick French accent:)

You don't want gravy?

28.

MOTHER:

(Quickly switching to

French:
)

No, I want something vegetarian. I-

The cook takes her plate, sets it on the counter in front of

Father. The following takes place in French (subtitled).

FRENCH COOK:

There. No problems.

FATHER:

She asked if you have something

vegetarian.

FRENCH COOK:

Vegetarian - the cow that produced

this liver was vegetarian, the pigs

that went into these sausages were

vegetarian.

FATHER:

Very funny. But she doesn't eat

liver.

FRENCH COOK:

(Getting irritated:)

Then she can eat the sausages, the

rice, the gravy.

(To Mother:
)

Or you can go cook your own food.

FATHER:

How dare you talk to my wife like

that?

The cook shoves a plate of plain rice over the counter.

FRENCH COOK:

Here's your rice. I cook for

sailors, not curry eaters.

Father grabs the cook's forearms, yanking him halfway over

the high counter.

FATHER:

What did you call us??

FRENCH COOK:

Let go of me!

FATHER:

Who do you think you are? You're

nothing but a servant!

29.

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